No. 5 Adna erupts in second half to hand No. 4 Rainier first loss
The extended homecoming halftime show gave the teams a few more minutes in the locker room.
Adna High School’s football program apparently used the time to tinker its second-half defensive scheme, as the visiting Pirates completely shut down previously undefeated Rainier’s high-scoring offense after the break.
In a battle of two top Class 2B programs, fifth-ranked Adna put on a dominating defensive performance in the third quarter, scoring on an interception return and adding a safety, knocking off fourth-ranked Rainier, 38-16, in 2B Central League play Friday night in Rainier.
The Mountaineers (5-1) looked razor sharp on their first two possessions to build an 8-point lead at the half.
Things immediately went south for Rainier once the third quarter started.
The Pirates (5-1) registered a safety moments into the second half before a 9-yard touchdown run by Chance Fay three minutes into the third quarter gave Adna it’s first lead of the game at 17-16.
It turned out to be all the points they would need, as the Pirates defense smothered the Mountaineers.
Adna linebacker Abel Ingle returned an interception 10 yards for a score the next time Rainier had the ball. The sophomore wasn't finished, however, recovering a Rainier fumble three plays later.
Fay scored his second touchdown immediately following the turnover to cap a 23-point third quarter for the Pirates.
The Mountaineers failed to pass midfield in the second half.
Rainier scored on its first two possessions — successfully adding a 2-point conversion on both scores — to double up the Pirates at the half, 16-8.
Brody Klein capped the Mountaineers opening drive with a short 1-yard touchdown plunge.
A high snap on the ensuing PAT forced quarterback Zach Lofgren to improvise. The junior rolled to the left, looking to pass. Finding nothing, he turned his attention to the opposite side of the field where he threw across his body, hitting a wide open Cole Reise.
After the Pirates scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-10 and added their own 2-point play to tie the contest at 8-8, Rainier answered with a 49-yard touchdown run from Lofgren two 2 minutes later.
Another high snap on the PAT had Lofgren once again scrambling around. This time no one was open, so he simply tucked the ball and sprinted into the end zone.
NO. 5 ADNA | 8 | 0 | 23 | 7 | — | 38 |
NO. 4 RAINIER | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 |
R – Brody Klein 1 run (Cole Reise pass from Zach Lofgren)
A – Cooper Viggers 29 pass from Conner Weed (Camden Ryan pass from Weed)
R – Lofgren 49 run (Lofgren run)
A – Safety
A – Chance Fay 9 run (Weed kick)
A – Abel Ingle 10 interception return (Weed kick)
A – Fay 15 run (Weed kick)
A – Viggers 10 run (Weed kick)
This story was originally published October 6, 2017 at 11:55 PM with the headline "No. 5 Adna erupts in second half to hand No. 4 Rainier first loss."